Printing-machine



w. M.. BACON. 1

PRINTING MACHINE Armenia! FILED APR. 13. 19.18.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

'2 suns-SHEET 1.

IWVENTOR.

H15 .4 TTORNEYS WITNESS.

W. M. BACON. PRINTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR.13. 191s.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

III/111111111411 IIIIIIIIIIIIII/ I/Ill. II

INVENTORQ Maw BY ,7

E25 ATTORNEYS.

TINTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. BACON, OF CHICAGO, 'ILLINOIS,'ASSIGNOR T0 ENAMELED STEEL SIGNCOMPANY, OF GHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS:

PRINTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. 27, 1920.

Application med April 1a, 1918. seriainazaase.

by a continuous bed, thereby permitting application of multiple colorsfrom the separate forms and in one movement through the machine.

Another object of: the invention is to.

provide a printing machine with a novel form of impression bed adaptedto move continuously in one directlon to bring the material operatedupon into printing position below the type or form cylinders supportedabove the bed.

Another object of the invention is to equip a printing machine includingan endless bed for supporting the work operated upon, with formcylinders mounted above the bed, and coordinated driving mechanism foroperating the bed :and cylinders synchronously. p I

Another object of theinvention is tolproflvide a printing-machineincluding an endless work supporting bed with means for automaticallyfeeding the work to the bed and providing in connection with the bedautomatically operated gripping devices for holding the lwork inposition on the-bed to receive imprints from the form cylinders of themachine. I Additional features and advantages attainable from theinvention will be readily recognized without specific mention from thefollowing detailed disclosureftaken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in whicha Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a complete printingmachine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lower frame of the machine with the bedremoved, showing particularly the driving connections whereby the bed isoperated and the form cylinders rotated.

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the machine takensubstantially onthe'line 3-3 of Fig. 1.- i

Fig.14'is a detailed view of a section of the bed l-illustratingparticularly" the con struction'of the gripping means for holding the.work in position on thebed, and the manner in which the'sameis'operated.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the mainframe of the machine is shown as constructed from" side plates 1 which:are supported upon standards or legs 2 at each end with an intermediatesupporting base 3. There are a number of transverse supports 4 in theform of I-beams disposedlat' intervals throughout the length of theframe. On each of the side members and integrally formed therewith is anendless track or rail comprising upper and lower sections 5 and 6respectively, which sections extend through.- out the length of theframe and are connected at their ends by curved portions 7 These tracksor rails constitute supports for the endless bed upon which the workarranged near each edge of the. bed, the

connection" between the plates 8 and the chains being effected throughears or brackets 10 attached at each side to the bottom of the plates 8and connecting with the pins of the sprocket chains. The plates 8 are;provided at each side with brackets 11 which support rollers 12, therollers 12 operating "on the rails or tracks at the side of the frame.Additional supporting devices foradjustably supporting the surface ofthe bed include jack screws 13 mounted 011 the transverse supportingmembers 4 which screws have V-shaped extremities 14 which extendunderV-shaped rail sections 15 formed on the under surfaces' of theplates 8. The adjustable supports permit the surface of the bed to beadjusted according to the thickness of the work operated upon and to thedegree of impression required.

Large sprocket wheels 16 are mounted on a transverse shaft 17 at one endof the frame and sprockets 18 are mounted on a shaft 19 at the oppositeend of the frame of the machine. The sprockets 16 and 18 mesh with thesprocket chains 9 of the bed section. The shaft 17 is journaled at eachend in an adjustable bearing 20 equipped with manipulating screws 21,whereby the shaft may be moved in and out from the end of the frame fortightening the chains of the bed section.

The mechanism for driving the shaft 19 in the embodiment illustratedcomprises a motor M supported by the frame, which motor drives a shaft22 connected with a trans and the lever being accessible formanipulation by the operator at the side of the frame work. A controllerbox 30 supported on the side of the frame provides means for controllingthe motor. The controller boX and the lever 29 are preferably arrangedadjacently so that the entire operation. of the machine may beconveniently controlled by the operator standing at the side of themachine.

At the rear end of the machine is a feeding table comprising a frame 31supporting a table 32 and an inclined table 33 in which is a series ofrollers 34. The work is advanced from the table 32 manually onto therollers 34 from whence it moves by gravity to the face of the endlessbed. In order to preserve the work in lateral alinement a side guide 35is provided for the table 33.

The endless bed is equipped at suitable intervals with gripping deviceswhich include a gripping claw comprising a stem 36 which extends throughan opening in the face of the plate 8. The stem 36 has an over-turnedgripping arm 37 at its upper end which bears against the face of the bedand impinges the material at vanced to the bed from the table 33. Thestem 36 is actuated downwardly by a strong spring 38. A lever 39 ispivoted to the plate 8 at 40 and to the stem 36 at 41. The forward endof the lever 39 carries a roller 42.

Upon the rear and front transverse supports 4 are brackets 43 having camfaces. The rear one of the brackets 43 is so disposed. that when thesection of the bed having the gripping device thereon starts itsmovement in a horizontal lane forward in the'frame, the roller 42 willride upon the cam face of the bracket-lifting the gripping arm 37 sothat the Work advancing from the table 33 will pass therebeneath and, asthe bed moves forward, the roller rides from the cam face and thegripping arm holds the work in position until the forward travel of thebed has been completed and the roller 42 comes in contact with the camface of the forward bracket 43, thereby releasing the work. a receivingbelt or carrier 44' is provided, the work passing from the bed onto thecarrier being conveyed from the printing ma chine automatically. Thebelt 44- is operated over a drum or pulley 45 which is driven by a beltconnection 46 from the shaft 17.

At each side of the machine are standards 47 in which the form cylinders48 are mounted. In the embodiment shown two form cylinders aredisclosed, but it is obvious that additional form cylinders may beprovided if desired. The driving mechanism for the form cylinderscomprises a gear 49 attached to the shaft 19. The gear 49 meshes with agear 50 on the shaft 51 journaled transversely in the frame of themachine. The shaft 51 carries a gear 52 which meshes with a gear 53, thegear 53 sing supported on a pivoted arm 54. The forward end of the arm54 extends between a pair of adjusting screws 55 so that the same may beraised and lowered to bring it into and out of mesh with a large gear 56carried on the rear one of the form cylinders 48. The form cylinders 48are geared together by a pinion 57 meshing at one side with the gear 56and at the other side with the gear 58 on the forward one of the formcylinders- A yoke 59 disposed between the standards, whereby the formcylinders are supported, constitutes means for sup- At the forward endof the frame porting the form cylinder standards and also, provides asupport for the gear 5?. Suitable inking. mechanism 60 of knownconstruction is provided for each of the form cylinders.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the operationof the printing machine is as follows: The work which may be in the formof signs of wood, metal or cloth, and for which the machine is primarilydesigned, is advanced from the table 32 on to the rollers 34, movingdownwardly by gravity to the face of the bed. At this point the grippingdevice in the bed is raised to receive the work passing therebeneath asthe bed moves forward and is clamped in position and is carried beneaththe first form cylinder, receiving one impression and then forwardbeneath the other form cylinder receiving an additional impression,after which the bed advances the work to the forward end of the frame,whereupon the gripping device is released and the work is advanced tothe conveyor at the front of the machine. The adjustment of the bed sothat the proper distance between the surface of the form cylinders andthe surface of the work is maintained is effected through the adjustingdevices comprising the jack screws 13 and their connections with the bedsections. I

I am aware that the invention may find expression in other embodimentsand I do not limit myself therefore to the construction shown anddescribed, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A printing machine, comprising a main frame, an endless bed mountedto move in the frame, adjustable devices for adjusting the upper surfaceof the bed, guides at the side of the frame for supporting the edges ofthe bed, and mechanism for movingthe bed in the frame. 7

2. In a printing machine, a frame, a transverse shaft at the front ofthe frame and at the rear thereof, a pair of sprocket wheels on each ofsaid shafts disposed adjacent to the sides of the frame, flexiblesprocket chains mounted over the longitudinal pairs of sprocket wheels,a driving shaft disposed longitudinally in the frame, gear connectionsbetween one of said first-named shafts and said longitudinal shaft, aprime mover, driving connections between said longitudinal shaft andsaid prime mover, a bed for supporting the work, a form cylinder mountedabove said bed, and driving connections between the driven transverseshaft and the form cylinder.

3. In a printing machine, a frame, a transverse shaft at the front ofthe frame and at the rear thereof, a pair of sprocket wheels on each ofsaid shafts disposed adjacent to the sides of the frame, flexiblesprocket chains mounted over the longitudinal pairs of sprocket wheels,a driving shaft disposed longitudinally in the frame, gear connectionsbetween one of said firstnamed shafts and said longitudinal shaft, aprime mover,

driving connections between said longitudinal shaft and said primemover, a bed for supporting the work, a form cylinder mounted above saidbed, driving connections be tween the driven transverse shaft .and theform cylinder inking mechanism, and driving mechanism for said inkingmechanism.

4. In a printing machine, an endless bed adapted to move continuously inone direction, driving mechanism for the bed, form cylinders mountedabove the bed, driving connections between the actuating mechanism forthe bed and the form cylinders, and means in said last-named connectionfor disengaging the same from the form cylinders.

5. In a printing machine, an endless work supporting bed having anopening therethrough and being operable to advance the work to positionsto receive impressions, a stem extending operatively through saidopening, a gripping arm on said stem above the bed for engaging andholding the work on the bed, a spring actuating said stem in a directionto hold the gripping arm yield ingly in position to hold the work on thebed, and a lever pivoted to said stem for moving the same in oppositionto said spring as required to move the gripping arm to position torelease the work.

6. In a printing machine, a supporting frame, a revoluble drum at eachend of the frame, an endless work supporting bed operating around saiddrums, and having openings therethrough, a stem operatively mounted ineach of said openings, a gripping arm in connection with each stem abovethe bed for clamping the work in position on the bed, springs encirclingsaid stems below the bed for actuating the gripping arms to clampingposition, and levers pivotally carried by the under side of the bed andpivoted to said stems for actuating the stems as required to move thegripping arms to position to release the work.

7. In a printing machine, a supporting frame, a revoluble drum at eachend of the frame, an endless work supporting bed operating around saiddrums, clamping arms for clamping the work on the bed, stems inconnection with said arms and extending through the bed, springs forholding the clamping arms yieldingly in position to hold the work on thebed, levers pivotally supported by the bed and pivotally connected tosaid stems, respectively, and cams supported by the frame for movingsaid levers effectively to actuate the stems and thereby move theclamping arms to posi tions to receive and release the work.

8. In a printing machine, the combination with form cylinders, of anendless work supporting bed located beneath said cylinders, mechanismfor moving said bed, supports upon which the bed moves, and means forholding said supports in different positions to support the bed atdifferent distances from the form cylinders to accommodate work ofdifferent thickness.

9. In a printing machine, the combination with form cylinders, of a pairof drums operating on parallel axes, an endless work supporting bedoperating around said drums beneath the cylinders, devices for clampingthe work upon the bed, means for releasing said devices from the workafter printing has been completed, and means for supporting the bedbetween said drums at difierent distances from the cylinders.

10. In a printing machine, a form cylinder, a pair of drums operating onparallel axes, a movable work supporting bed operating around saiddrums, means for operating said drums to move said bed continuously inone direction below the cylinder, and adjustable supports for supportingthe bed between said drums at selected di stances from the cylinderduring movement of the bed.

the bed.

12. In a printing machine, a frame, rigid tracks on the frame, a worksupporting bed operating on said tracks when supporting work of apredetermined thickness, adjustable supports for supporting the bedinclependently of said tracks to accommodate work of other than thepredetermined thick ness, mechanism for operating the bed, clampingdevices for holding the work on the bed, and means for releasing theclamping devices from the work automatically and as an incident tomovement of the bed.

13. In a printing machine, a frame, an endless bed mounted in the frameand arranged to move continuously in one direction, form cylinderssupported above the bed, a prime mover, driving connections between theprime mover and the bed, connections between the driving mechanism andthe form cylinders for operating the bed and the form cylindersconcurrently, and means for supporting the bed at different distancesfrom the form cylinders to accommodate work of different thickness.

14. In a printing machine, side frames; an endless track supported byeach side frame including upper and lower horizontal portions, andcurved portions connecting the ends thereof; an endless bed; rollers inconnection with the bed operating on said track; means for operating thebed to carry the work to position to receive impressions; and adjustablesupports for supporting the upper portion of the bed independently ofsaid track.

15. In a printing machine, side frames; an endless track supported byeach side frame including upper and lower horizontal portions, andcurved portions connecting the ends thereof; an endless bed; rollers inconnection with the bed operating on said track; optionally adjustablesupports for supporting the upper portion of the bed independently ofsaid track; means for operating the bed to carry the work to position toreceive impressions; and means for holding the work on the bed duringoperation.

16. In a printing machine, side frames; an endless track in connectionwith each side frame composed of upper and lower horizontal portions;and curved portions connecting the ends of the horizontal portions; anendless bed; rollers in connection with the endless bed operating on thetracks; optionally adjustable supports for supporting the upper portionof the bed independently of said track; form cylinders above the bed;mechanism for revolving the form cylinders and operating the bed tocarry the work to the form cylinders; and gripping devices for holdingthe work on the bed.

17. In a printing machine, side frames; an endless track in connectionwith each side frame composed of upper and lower horizontal portions;and curved portions connecting the ends of the horizontal portions; anendless bed; rollers in connection with the endless bed operating on thetracks; form cylinders above the bed; mechanism for revolving the formcylinders and operating the bed to carry the work to the form cylinders;gripping devices for holding the work on the bed; and meansforsupporting the bedat different distances from the form cylinders.

18. In a printing machine, a pair of drums supported on parallel Xes, anendless bed operated by said drums, tracks for supporting the bedbetween the drums, option ally adjustable supports for supporting thebed between the drums, mechanism for revolving said drums to operate thebed on said tracks in whatever adjustment the bed may be, form cylindersabove the bed for printing on the work on the bed, a table incliningdownwardly toward the inwardly moving upper portion of the bed, aninclined series of rollers carried by said table for supporting the workduring its movement to the bed, and gripping devices carried by the'bedfor engaging the work passing on the bed from said rollers.

19. In a printing machine, a frame, an endless bed supported within theframe, a rigid track for supporting the bed, adj ustable devices foradjusting the upper portion of the bed, and mechanism for moving the bedwithin the frame. 7

20. In a printing machine, a main frame, an endless bed mounted in theframe, form cylinders supported above the bed, devices for adjusting theupper portion of the bed relative to the form cylinders, mechanism foroperating the bed and the cylinders, gripping devices for holding thework on the bed, means for operating the gripping devices to engage thework at one end of the machine, and means for operating the grippingdevices to disengage the work at the opposite end of the machine.

21. In a printing machine, a pair of drums supported on parallel axes,an endless bed operated by said drums, means for supporting the bedbetween the drums for operation in different adjusted positions,mechanism for revolving said drums to operate the bed in any of saidadjusted positions, form cylinders above the bed, a table incliningdownwardly toward the inwardly moving upper portion of the bed, aninoperating said levers to move the gripping clined series of rollerscarried by said table devices to release the Work.

for supporting the Work during its move- In Witness whereof I havesigned this ment to the bed, gripping devices carried by specificationin the presence of two subscrib- 5 the bed for engaging the Work passingon ing Witnesses.

the bed from said rollers, levers for operatv WILLIAM M- BACON. mg thegripping devlces to posltlons to receive and to release the Work, meansfor ac- W1tnesses:

tuating said levers to move the gripping L. G, KINGSLAND,

10 devices to receive the Work, and means for N. G. BUTLER.

